DecodedCars2018 Ford EcoSport
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr Cuv
- Engines
- 1.0L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 28 combined · 27 city / 29 hwy
- Length
- 162.2 in
- Curb weight
- 3,020 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Higher rollover riskNHTSA estimates a 20.4% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.
- Many owner complaints727 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 75 for similar models — most often about the engine.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 7 similar 2018 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Ford EcoSport is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.0L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 162 inches long and 68 inches wide on a 99-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,020 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 28 MPG combined (27 city / 29 highway), 12% better than the 2018 small SUV average of 24.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,400 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned a 4-star overall rating.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 727 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Cuv | 162.2 in | 68.1 in | 65 in | 99.2 in | 60.6 / 60.6 in | 3,020 lb | 59/41 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoSport FWD | 1.0L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 29 / 28 | +12% | $2,400 | 314 |
| EcoSport AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 29 / 25 | +8% | $2,700 | 353 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford EcoSport 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 19.1% |
| 2018 Ford EcoSport 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 20.4% |
Similar 2018 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford EcoSport (this car) | 28 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Jeep Wrangler | 24 MPG | Not rated | 14 |
| 2018 Hyundai Kona | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Chevrolet Trax | 28 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Jeep Renegade | 26 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Buick Encore | 30 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2018 Fiat 500 X | 28 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil/Lubrication › Pump · Dec 22, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V905000 · 139,730 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
- Risk
- A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
Service Brakes · May 14, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V312000 · 273 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in the United States Federal Territiories. These vehicles were shipped with the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label and the European English language owner's manual kits. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Owners could be confused by the incorrect label on the brake fluid cap, potentially causing them to replace the brake fluid with an incorrect fluid which could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C04.
Not every 2018 Ford EcoSport is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2018 Ford EcoSport buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 356 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Engine And Engine Cooling — 298 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Power Train — 66 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 65,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Ford EcoSport. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other EcoSport years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 EcoSport | 25 | – | ★★★★★ | 2 | 12 |
| 2021 EcoSport | 28 | 161.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 261 |
| 2020 EcoSport | 28 | 161.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 400 |
| 2019 EcoSport | 28 | 161.4 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 461 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ford. How we calculate this →